Law Enforcement

Skid row shooting: Nearly 20 witnesses interviewed in probe
The independent inspector general tasked with investigating the LAPD's shooting of a homeless man on skid row said Tuesday that his office recently interviewed nearly 20 people who said they saw at least part of the fatal encounter. Inspector General Alex Bustamante, who reports directly to the civilian Police Commission, told commissioners that although his staff was on the scene immediately after the March 1 incident, investigators went back to skid row on Sunday looking for more witnesses. They spoke to about 100 people, he said, 18 of whom said they saw "a portion or all of the shooting."
Los Angeles Times , CBS Los Angeles

Police and the mentally ill: LAPD unit praised as model for nation
The call comes in from a high-rise complex on Third Avenue in mid-city Los Angeles: A woman is again throwing items from her ninth floor apartment balcony. On this day, it's a large picture frame, its glass now shattered in the courtyard below. A special LAPD team joins patrol officers on the scene. In the hallway outside the apartment, Officer Dennis Nguyen meets with supervising Detective Jim Hoffman and tells him that the woman inside is acting “a bit erratic.”
KPCC

Criminologists debate LAPD's predictive policing by helicopter surveillance
Helicopters are playing a bigger role in the LAPD's predictive policing efforts and not everyone is happy about it. Supporters of the policy say the department's 17 helicopters offer a powerful expansion of the Broken Windows theory, a deterrent when they fly over hotspots identified through data-driven crime fighting. The data backs them up.
KPCC

Activists' disruption of skid row tour was legal, court rules
A federal appeals court decided unanimously Tuesday that a California law that prohibits people from disrupting lawful meetings does not apply to political gatherings. The decision by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals was another victory for activists seeking to protect the rights of homeless people in Los Angeles, who had sued after being arrested or threatened with arrest.
Los Angeles Times

Law Enforcement Officials From Across SoCal Recognized For Fighting Hate
More than 30 law enforcement officials from across Southern California have been honored by the Anti-Defamation League for their efforts to fight hate crimes. The Sherwood family prize was awarded Tuesday at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
CBS Los Angeles

Women Facing Elder Abuse Scam Charges May Have Targeted Others: Police
Los Angeles County Sheriff's detectives are seeking the public's help in identifying victims of an elder abuse scam in Southern California, authorities said Tuesday. Margaret Souza, of Quartz Hill, and Teneca Wilson, of Los Angeles, attended a preliminary hearing Monday at Norwalk Superior Court. Souza, 48, and Wilson, 31, were held to answer charges of attempted elder abuse, attempted grand theft and conspiracy.
NBC Los Angeles

Missing woman sparks concern after series of attacks at Cal State San Bernardino
Authorities are concerned about the disappearance of a 22-year-old woman after a recent string of attacks near California State University San Bernardino. Sahray Astina Barber was last seen about 6 a.m. Monday in the 1500 block of West Northpark Boulevard on her way to work, according to the San Bernardino Police Department. She never arrived to work and her whereabouts are unknown. Investigators found her belongings in bushes in front of her home, Police Lt. Rich Lawhead said.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti begins fundraising for 2017 re-election bid
Signalling his intention to seek a second term as Los Angeles mayor, Eric Garcetti filed campaign fundraising papers with the city this week. Garcetti also launched a new web site Monday. The site's homepage reads: Eric Garcetti for Mayor 2017. It includes a donations page.
Los Angeles Daily News

Prisons

Judge Outlines Plan For California To Regain Prison Control
A federal judge has outlined a plan for California to end nearly a decade of federal control over its prison health care system. U.S. District Court Judge Thelton Henderson of San Francisco acted Tuesday after a court-appointed overseer reported that conditions have substantially improved since 2006.
CBS Los Angeles